Reality Check

Adam thought about the question for a moment before shaking his head.

With a big smile on his face, he reached his hand patted Eve on the head.

"You don't need to worry about making the decision right now. You have a whole year to prepare for the possibility, why rush it now?"

Eve had calmed down even more, what Adam just did was what others call family tradition, a love language or unique way of expressing love. Since they were children, way before Eve was announced to have double awakening potential, she was the silly cry-baby among the two of them.

Outcasts, even as children, do not have the sympathy of society. As orphans, their guardianship in the hand of the Kennedy family extends only to their essential survival needs. An apartment, food, that was all.

Growing on their own, Adam and Eve were alone even as children. Whenever Eve was bullied or get scared, Adam would pat her head gently and calm her down.

She smiled back at him.

"You are right. I should focus on building my strength for now, when the time comes, I will consider the choice then." She said.

Eve left the hall and went back to the dormitory, while Adam stood back and practiced more on Commander Astra's instructions.

When he was done, he was very tired, his entire body was fatigued and exhausted. He barely made it back to the room.

The next morning, he woke up to the system notification that he did not expect.

A translucent window was displayed.

Congratulations. You have levelled up.

You have advanced to level 2.

+5 strength points awarded.

+5 Agility points awarded.

+20 Stamina.

You are now a level 2 player.

Daily quest has been unlocked.

Adam was surprised, he thought that he would have to participate in some great ordeal to level up, but it had happened on its own.

When he checked his stats, he noticed that his system points function has changed to EXP.

When he focused on the EXP panel, he saw a smaller information window.

Starting from level 2, you will obtain EXP points whenever you fight or achieve a great feat of activity.  

He closed the window and went to sleep.

The next morning, the moment he opened his eyes, a system notification was waiting for him.

Daily quests 1 out of 5.

Twenty sit-ups.

Reward: 2 EXP points.

Adam got out of bed and performed 20 sit-ups. As promised, the system rewarded him with 2 EXP points. He the next four quests were physical activities, which he performed and continued gaining EXP points from the system.

Sit-up, push-ups, squats, jumps, he completed all of them, gaining a total of 10 EXP points in total.

When he checked his status window, he saw a hint under his level indicator,

Acquire 2,000 EXP points to level up.

The overhead speakers buzzed to life, crackling with static before a commanding voice cut through.

"All recruits, report to your designated classrooms. History session begins in ten minutes."

Adam exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. The new daily quests from the system have all been exercise drills, leaving his muscles aching, but there was no time to rest.

Arc Aegis was relentless. Every day was a test, a trial meant to break those who didn't belong.

Across from him in the dormitory's common area, Eve was already dressed up and out, adjusting the straps on her uniform. She glanced at him and smirked. "Better not be late again. The instructors are just waiting for an excuse to make your life miserable." She said as she walked by.

Adam chuckled, pushing himself up from the chair he had been resting. "Let them try." He said mischievously.

Adam quickly dressed in the military uniform and the two of them left the dormitory, stepping into the gleaming white corridors of Arc Aegis. The air vibrated with the hum of Nytherite-powered energy grids, and the sleek, metallic walls reflected the bluish overhead lighting.

They walked in silence, the weight of expectation pressing down on them. Adam still wasn't used to this, being here, training alongside Pures and Ascendants, defying the very structure of society. But he was determined to make himself better.

The history classroom was a massive theater, lined with holographic displays. As the recruits filed in, the images shifted, scenes of towering cities, battles, and the monstrous forms of Extremovores, the creatures that had driven humanity into the sky.

Adam and Eve slid into their seats. A few rows away, Seraphina Kennedy sat with her usual composed grace. She was the epitome of nobility, long silver hair, piercing blue eyes, the embodiment of a Pure's superiority. She never openly spoke against Adam, but her mere presence was a reminder of how different their worlds were.

The instructor, Commander Selene with her golden hair and a military uniform adorned with gold insignia, stepped onto the platform. Her sharp eyes scanned the recruits before she spoke.

"Today, we will examine the Fall of Earth and the Rise of Humanity's True Elite."

The room fell silent as the holograms flickered, displaying Earth as it once was—lush, thriving, whole. Then, the images darkened. Cities lay in ruins, craters scarred the land, and towering beasts with grotesque, armored bodies rampaged across the screen.

"Two hundred and fifty years ago," the instructor began, "the discovery of Nytherite propelled humanity into an age of unprecedented advancement. But with great power came great peril."

Adam knew this story well. Everyone did. But hearing it here, now, made it feel different. More real.

"Nytherite changed the world." The instructor's voice was even, steady. "It was our salvation and our doom. It gave us energy beyond measure, but it also poisoned our world, accelerating the evolution of lesser creatures into monsters beyond comprehension."

The hologram zoomed in on an image of a mutated wolf-like creature, its body plated in organic armor.

"These Extremovores devastated the planet, forcing humanity into the sky. The Supreme Emperor ordered the construction of the Seven Arcs, ensuring the survival of only those strong enough to adapt. And thus, our new society was born."

Adam's fists clenched. He knew where this was going.

"The strongest among us," Selene continued, "rose to the top. The Pures. Those with the highest genetic potential. They led humanity forward. The rest, those who lacked the ability to evolve, became Outcasts."

There it was. The justification for everything. Why Adam and people like him were seen as inferior. Why the Pures hoarded power while the Outcasts struggled for scraps.

Selene's gaze swept the room and landed on Adam. "History is not kind to the weak." She lamented.

Adam met her stare without flinching.

One day, he thought, I'll change that.

After class, recruits splilled into the corridors, talking amongst themselves. Adam walked beside Eve and Alec, his thoughts still tangled in the weight of the lesson.

Then, a voice called from behind.

"Reed!"

Adam stopped. He knew that voice.

Turning, he found himself face-to-face with Alden Vaelis, one of the highest-ranked Pures in their regiment.

Tall, with short silver hair and piercing blue eyes, Alden carried himself with effortless arrogance. He wasn't just any Pure, he was a prodigy. An S-ranked cadet, rumored to be one of the strongest in their generation. Everyone knew him.

He gave a speech on behalf of the cadets that was broadcasted over the seven Arcs. Of course, Adam knew him.

"But how did he know me?" Adam wondered.

Alden looked at Adam as if he were an anomaly, something that shouldn't exist.

"I've been hearing some interesting things about you," he said, folding his arms.

Adam didn't blink. "Oh yeah? Like what?"

Alden's lips curled into a smirk. "That an Outcast thinks he can stand on equal footing with us."

The air grew tense. Recruits stopped to watch, whispering amongst themselves.

Eve narrowed her eyes. "Walk away, Vaelis."

Alden barely spared her a glance.

"I'm not talking to you, Reed. Your brother here needs a reminder of where he stands." He said.

Adam clenched his fists. "Then remind me." he responded with fury.

Alden's smile widened. "Gladly." He said in a soft sadistic tone.

Before Adam could react, Alden moved.

A blur. A shift in the air. He was gone.

Then pain.

Alden appeared in a blur before Adam, his fist slammed into Adam's gut, knocking the wind out of him. Adam staggered backwards, but before he could regain his footing.

At this point, Alden was already behind him, sweeping his legs out from behind.

Adam hit the ground hard, his vision blurring away.

He tried to move, but Alden's boot pressed against his chest, pinning him down.

The whispers turned into stunned silence.

Alden leaned down, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're not ready."

Adam gritted his teeth. He pushed against Alden's foot, struggling, but it was useless. The strength gap was too much. He would not even be given the chance to summon his primordial light.

Alden wasn't Bryan. He wasn't some spoiled Ascendant with a superiority complex. He was a Pure, a real one. And he was stronger. Faster. Better.

The realization struck Adam harder than the punch.

He wasn't ready. He wasn't strong enough.

Not yet.

Alden removed his foot and stepped back. "Stay in your lane, Outcast," he said. "Unless you want to end up broken."

Then he turned and walked away.

Adam lay there, his breath heavy. His chest burned from exertion, his pride even more.

Eve crouched beside him, her expression unreadable. "Are you okay?" she asked.

Adam exhaled, forcing himself to sit up. "Yeah. I will be fine." He said, avoiding her gaze.

But he wasn't.

For the first time since arriving at Arc Aegis, he had thought—truly thought—that he was strong enough to take on a Pure.

He had been wrong.

A cold, harsh truth settled over him.

He was still weak.

But weakness could be fixed.

As Alden disappeared down the corridor, Adam made himself a promise.

Next time, I won't lose.

When Adam stood on his feet, the system window flared.

You have earned 3 EXP points.

He was shocked, but the realization sank in.

He started laughing loudly.

"That's how it is. I see, then I shall exploit it." He said.